Retro shock: a grotesque crime scene images from the us media 40 years

We all remember the funny and menacing staged photo from the tabloids of the 90-ies, filled with tomato juice kitchen knives and open in a silent cry mouths of the victims. But as it turned out, not "AIDS-info" and "World of crime" were the founders of this wonderful genre. In 1940-ies of XX century American weekly newspaper Police Reporter published papers on the resonant crimes of the past, along with such "masterpieces".

As closely as possible to convey the heartbreaking moments of crimes, journalists and photographers Police Reporter was created entire productions, which today look grotesque and not taken seriously. But you need to remember that 80 years ago the world was different and what's making us laugh or bewilderment, and gave readers a real horror.

Mankind has surely lost these wonderful photos, but the edition of the Chicago Tribune acquired the archives of the newspaper. Finding interesting shots, the guys decided to find out what the crime dramas they are connected and have told your readers many interesting things.

Highlight the pictures and stories associated with them, given that in the first half of the twentieth century, the police, the reporters themselves became participants of investigation of loud crimes. One of his contemporaries wrote about the people of this profession:

One of the most sensational cases of the photos of the Arsenal Police Reporter was "a Case, in fact, an honest man." The material was published in the issue dated 6 August 1944, but was devoted to the high-profile robbery that took place in November 1933.

Then the burglar broke into the Laundry room, shot the owner and seriously wounded one of the visitors. Before the offender had been in the Laundry room, preparing the attack, and used her calling the real name and address. Crime helped uncover police reporter Tom Mercer, who offered the cops to closely examine the entries in the order book and match its data with the available evidence.

Thanks to the idea of a journalist the crime was solved very quickly. When 29-year-old robber was arrested, Mercer asked him — "Why did you give the host address, which allowed you to grab?". This criminal openly said — "I know. This trouble haunts me throughout my life, because I, in fact, an honest man...". Decency has cost the guy — he was executed in the electric chair.

Another interesting material from the archive of the reporter of the newspaper became "the case of the blue sedan". 15 Sep 1927 in new Jersey shot and killed behind the wheel of your own car of Dr. William Lilliendahl. 72-year-old doctor at the time of the murder was in the car with his 41-year-old wife, Margret.

The murder occurred near the house of the couple and neighbors saw leaving the crime scene, blue sedan. Police reporter John Gearhart "Doc" Crate immediately declared that the crime involved the spouse of the doctor. He not only immediately called complicit in the crime, but detained the accomplice Margret Lilliendahl, whose name was Willis beach. This guy was a murderer of the doctor, whose wife was eager to quickly become heir to his fortune.

"The case of Lochinvar, who didn't smoke" associated with the murder of a trader meat of Evanston Robert Francis burns. The businessman was married twice and the third Union was fatal for him. He met a charming blonde Lucille Buehler's, which immediately played the engagement. August 22, 1937 the couple was walking in one of the parks in Chicago, when they were attacked by robbers.

Brave Robert entered into an unequal battle with the jump out of the bushes by criminals and during the fight he had been shot dead. Buhler was crying quite convincingly, but the police reporter Frank Marron noticed that she killed only in the presence of police officers or members of the press. Marron and Lieutenant James Coleman decided to conduct an inspection of the home, the grieving damsel and found in the ashtray on her Desk ash from expensive cigars.

The deceased had led a healthy lifestyle and never smoked, so it was obvious that Lucille met at home with one of the men. Using cigarette butts found in the ashtray fingerprints, the cops found that visiting Buhler visited her friends, the gangsters from Detroit. They made a daring attack which ended with murder.

At that time Lucille Buehler was able to evade responsibility, hiding from the police. She left Chicago, but her name has periodically surfaced in the crime reports from other cities. As it happens, her life history is silent.

Old photographs often become sources of unexpected discoveries and can tell many wonderful stories. But it also happens that the photographer, doing his job, goes too far, for what can pay.